new beginnings

The Second Day

The second I woke up I felt like I got punched in the face. I was hoping my injuries from yesterday were all just a nightmare and I would wake up with both of my eyes and legs.

I was still shocked that I lost them.

I looked outside, it was very clear that it was late morning and that they let me sleep in. I didn't know if I could be able to get up or not.

Drowsy and my head banging, I pushed myself off of the bed, shakily stood on my one leg, and slowly hopped over to my closet. I put on my white t-shirt then put on a flannel. Then I slid off the shorts and boxers carefully from last night and attempted to put on a different pair of boxers, and I almost fell over. Finally, putting on a pair of old tan cargo shorts I never wear instead of my usual long jeans, I put on my hat and hobbled out of the bedroom. I was surprised no one was with me the entire night.

Then came the stairs. I didn't have anyone to help me go down, so I clung to the railing and slowly jumped down the stairs. About two steps in, I fell down the entire staircase, bumping everything and giving myself more pain than I was already in. I laid on the floor by the stairs, hat knocked off. I felt miserable. My head felt like it was about to explode and my leg was throbbing. Sweat drenched my face and a little blood trickled down the left side of my face, just above my eyebrow. I had cut myself. I didn't want anyone to see me like this, but I was to weak to get up.

"Carl! Oh my God!" I heard feet running to my side. It was Dad.

"Son, are you okay? I shouldn't have left you alone," he picked me up gently.

"I'm fine, Dad," I responded weakly.

"I'm so sorry," he said quietly and looked down.

"I have a question, what's going to happen with Jessie?" I asked.

"Well, I had a big discussion with a lot of people last night, excluding Jessie. We broke up. But, everyone decided we can't kick her out or kill  her because she's pregnant. I'm so sorry I trusted her. And, I'm so sorry this happened," he told me. I was upset they didn't kill her, but I didn't say anything.

Dad put my arm around his shoulder and he carried me outside and sat me on the porch swing. He excused himself because he had to go work so he went inside. I saw Ron run up to me right after Dad left.

"Good morning," he smiled at me and sat down. "Are you okay?" he asked and took my hand without looking around.

"I fell down the stairs, but I did get dressed," I said.

"Damnit. I knew I should've spent the night in your room with you. I could've helped," he said and gazed into my eyes.

"It was okay. But I will need to go to Denise so she can change my bandages and give me medication," I said.

"Well, before you do, here's these," he told me to close my eyes and wait a second so he could get something. I felt a little excited.

He said I could open my eyes. He held in front of me two silver new crutches. I was really excited.

"I went out last night while everyone was sleeping and ran to the community hospital plenty of miles from here. I found these crutches, still in an unopened box! I felt really guilty that I couldn't be with you, so that really drove me to do it," he said. I was about to burst from happiness. He had done all of that just for me.

"Thank you!" I gave him a big hug, even though I was sitting and he was standing.

"Try 'em out," he helped me up and placed the crutches under my arms. I carefully put them in front of me, then took a step. This would take some getting used to.